Adjustable book holding means



Sept. 8, 1964 N. EVANOFF 3,147,948

ADJUSTABLE BOOK HOLDING MEANS Filed Nov. 19, 1962 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. QIICHOLAS EVANOFF p 8, 1964 N. EVANOFF ADJUSTABLE BOOK HOLDINGMEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 19, 1962 INVENTOR. NICHOLAS EVANQFFUnited States Patent 3,147,948 ADJUSTABLE BOOK HOLDING MEANS NicholasEvanotf, 820 E. 38th Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada FiledNov. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 238,404 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-455) This presentinvention relates to the general art of devices intended to hold booksand the like in a suitable position for convenient reading. Morespecifically, my present invention relates to an adjustable book holdingdevice in which each of four positioning means are independentlyadjustable and lockable in their adjusted positions so as to adapt thisdevice to a wide range of usefulness.

There are many persons who use book holding devices to assist them inreading; probably the greatest number of these are invalids or agedpersons who are inclined to assume relaxed positions in bed or invarious types of lounging chairs or couches. There is naturallyconsiderable dilference in the manner in which a book stand or rest ispositioned on a bed and the one used on a lounging chair, for instance.For this reason it has been found that the adjustable devices employedto hold the various supporting elements of the book rest must beindividually adjustable and be capable of being given adjustablefriction contact when it is desirable to move the rest small amountsafter the device has been put into use. This can be occasioned by adesire on the part of the person using the rest to make minor changes inhis position. This present book rest is believed to offer many of thedesirable adjustable characteristics which have not been available inany of the large variety of devices that have been examined.

A principal object of this present invention therefore is to provide abook rest that will hold a book at a backward inclined position so thatthe same will stay in position on the book rest.

A further object of this invention is to provide individually adjustablelegs engagedin the lower portion of the book rest and which may beindividually adjusted so as to take care of irregular surfaces and makeit possible to have the book rest portion of this device in asubstantially horizontal position.

A further object of this invention is to provide elongated rest members,which act as braces, slidably engaged with the upstanding portion of thebook rest and these are to be provided with mounting fixtures which makeit possible to apply a desired degree of friction to the rotary actionof the fixture itself, and to further provide that a desirable degree offriction, up to full locking, can be applied to the elongated orrod-like rest members.

Further objects, advantages and capabilities will be apparent from thedisclosure in the drawings or may be comprehended or are inherent in thedevice.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating one preferred arrangement ofmy book rest unit.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of my book rest as used by a person lyingon an adjustable bed such as a hospital bed.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, showing theadaptation of my book rest to the ordinary adjustable lounge chair andillustrating the wide range of adjustability possible with thisequipment.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation, partly in section and on an increasedscale showing the construction of the fixture employed to permit thepositioning of the elongated supporting members and to hold them intheir final adjusted positions.

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FIGURE 5 is a vertical, sectional view on an increased scale, of one ofthe leg members and illustrating the friction locking device that makesit so convenient to adjust each of the two legs independently so thatthey may compensate for irregularities in the supporting bed or chairsurface and make it possible to have the book itself held with its lowermargin in a horizontal plane.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view largely in section and on an increasedscale showing the means for securing the adjustable legs to the bookrest portion of my device.

Referring to the drawings, throughout which like reference numeralsindicate like parts, the numeral 10 designates the planar back rest ofmy device which is inclined with its top backward from the supportingbase so as to provide a slightly sloping rest for an open book. Disposedat the lower margin of back rest 10 is the substantially horizontal booksupporting member 12. This is normally disposed at right angles to theplane of the back rest 10 so that the tendency will be to have a bookwell seated so that it will not be dislodged if the user should move theback rest in the normal course of movement of his body. The back restand book rest portions may be made of any suitable material and for thispurpose the lightweight hardwood faced plywoods appear to be the mostsatisfactory choice.

The back rest portion is provided at each end with marginal reinforcingmembers 14 and 16. These members give rigidity to lightweight sheetmaterial which may be used in back rest 10 and also provide an adequatesupport for base 20 of the adjustable clamp member for the elongatedpositioning member 22. This member may be a solid rod or preferably asmall diameter tube, in order to keep the over-all weight of the deviceat a minimum. Referring to FIGURE 4, member 22 passes through an opening24 in the pivotable clamp member 26. Clamping action or adjustablefriction is provided in the threaded screw 28 having the knurled fingerdisc 30 of considerable diameter so that adequate pressure can beexerted on saddle member 31 which has an arcuate under side to fullyengage tube 22. Member 26 is pivoted within base 20 by means of thedownwardly extending pivot portion 32. An annular groove 34 is made inthe cylindrical portion 32 in order to accommodate the positioning andfrictional screw 36. This screw has an end portion 38 which engages apressure saddle member 33 having an arcuate inner surface to engage thebottom of groove 34 so that considerable frictional pressure can beprovided. A finger disc 40 of ample size makes it possible to provideany reasonable pressure or friction desired. Base 20 is provided withtwo mounting holes 42 and 44 so that suitable securing means be passedtherethrough to engage the side members 14 and 16 of the back rest andto thus hold the fitting indicated generally at 46 and 48 securely inposition so that it can in turn position the elongated rod or tube 22.Each end of the tubes 22 are preferably provided with rubber cant tipsas 50. Two foot support members as 60 and 62 are provided, eachconsisting of an upper tubular portion 64 or 66 fixedly secured to booksupporting member 12 by a suitable flange 65 shown in FIGURE 6 and alower, preferably tubular portion 68 and 69. Tubes 68 and 69 arepreferably provided with rubber cushioning tips 70.

. Referring to FIGURE 5, this is an enlarged scale detail, partly insection, of the friction joint or adjusting means disposed between theupper and lower members of legs 60 and 62. Tube 64 is provided at itslower end with an externally threaded portion 72, the inside of which isreamed to provide an accurate slidable bearing for the lower tube of theleg as 68. Portion 72 is preferably on a separate short tube 71 securedto tube 64 as by the snap ring 77. Engaging the outer tube 64 andserving as a lower guide at 74 for tube 68 is the threaded clamp ferrule76. This ferrule is provided with a lower sloping or beveled annularseat '73 for engaging the lower edge of the preferably ring type plasticfriction member 79 having beveled edges and disposed on tube 68. Thelower end of portion 72 indicated at 80 is similarly undercut to providea beveled seat for the upper edge 82 of the friction member 79. The mostsuitable material for this friction ring is some of the newer coldflowing plastics, of which Teflon is a good example. However, if made inmore generous proportions, an oil treated leather can be verypractically employed. The lower tube 68 is shown near its loweradjustable position in order to indicate the stop pin 86 which is of alength to fit in the bore 88 of tube 64 and the overhanging portions as90 provide adequate stops so that the lower tube portion will not beunconsciously pulled out too far and will not drop out when the frictionband 79 has no pressure on it.

In FIGURES 2 and 3 have been illustrated two of the more common uses formy book rest. In FIGURE 2 it is shown on a hospital type bed 85 and inFIGURE 3 it is illustrated on the ordinary lounging chair 87. Many otheruses may be made of this book holder which can be further adjusted sothat the back rest portion makes a small angle with the horizontal sothat the device can be used as a lectern. Obviously it could also beused as a table for a person playing solitaire or writing letters. Inadjusting the device it is common to adjust each support memberseparately. By so doing, one leg as 60 may be suitably adjusted and thenthe other leg member 62 adjusted so that the bottom book supportingportion 12 is substantially horizontal and at the height desired forclearance of the body of the user. The side or elongated support members22 can then be suitably adjusted by the clamp fixtures 46 and 48. Hereagain, each should be adjusted separately as it may be desirable to haveone leg at a considerable elevation over the other in order to have agood firm support for the book rest and it is for this reason that theadjustable features of the book rest, especially fittings 46 and 48, arepreferably made of considerable size so that the bearing surfaces willbe adequate to permit securing the different members, particularly theelongated support members 22, at unfavorable angles from the standpointof mechanical advantage, and still be sufiiciently rigid for theirintended purpose.

It is believed that it will be clearly apparent from the abovedescription and the disclosure in the drawings that the inventioncomprehends a novel construction of an adjustable book holding means.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An adjustable book holding means, comprising: (a) a planar back resthaving a marginal reinforcing member secured thereto at each side; (b) abook supporting member disposed at right angles to the plane of saidback rest and secured fixedly thereto; (c) adjustable and pivotableclamp members each having a base secured to one of the opposite sides ofsaid marginal reinforcing members; (d) elongated positioning membersadapted to slide through said adjustable clamp members and to be fixedlypositioned thereby at the desired adjusted position; (2) two spacedapart leg members which extend downwardly and are adjustable for lengthsecured substantially at right angles to the book supporting member; (g)said adjustable and pivotable clamp members each having a rotatableclamp member having a cylindrical portion with an annular groove and apressure saddle member adjustably seated in said groove by a frictionalscrew, said rotatable clamp member having a through opening for thepassage of said elongated positioning member and a saddle position tofrictionally engage said elongated positioning member and a threadedscrew disposed to apply adjustable pressures on said elongatedpositioning member and (f) frictional locking means for holding saidlegs at an adjusted length.

2. An adjustable book holding means, comprising: (a) a planar back resthaving a marginal reinforcing member secured thereto at each side; (b) abook supporting member disposed at right angles to the plane of saidback rest and secured fixedly thereto; (0) adjustable and pivotableclamp members each having a base secured to one of the opposite sides ofsaid marginal reinforcing members; (d) elongated positioning membersadapted to slide through said adjustable clamp members and to be fixedlypositioned thereby at the desired adjusted position; (2) two spacedapart leg members which extend downwardly and are adjustable for lengthsecured substantially at right angles to the book supporting member;(/1) said legs each comprising a flange secured to said book supportingmember, a set of two telescoping tubes, the larger diameter tubesthreadedly secured to one of said flanges and the other provided with acushioning tip, a ring type resilient friction member having bevelededges, said large diameter tubes each provided with an externallythreaded portion having a beveled seat to engage the upper edge of saidfriction ring members, a clamp ferrule threaded to engage said externalthreaded portion and having a beveled seat to engage the lower edge ofsaid friction member; and (f) frictional locking means for holding saidlegs at an adjusted length.

3. An adjustable book holding means, comprising: (a) a planar back resthaving a marginal reinforcing member secured thereto at each side; (b) abook supporting member disposed at right angles to the plane of saidback rest and secured fixedly thereto; (0) adjustable and pivotableclamp members each having a base secured to one of the opposite sides ofsaid marginal reinforcing members; (d) elongated positioning membersadapted to slide through said adjustable clamp members and to be fixedlypositioned thereby at the desired adjusted position; (a) two spacedapart leg members which extend downwardly and are adjustable for lengthsecured substantially at right angles to the book supporting member;(/1) said legs each comprising a flange secured to said book supportingmember, a set of two telescoping tubes, the larger diameter tubesthreadedly secured to one of said flanges and the other provided with acushioning tip, a ring type resilient friction member having bevelededges, said large diameter tubes each provided with a externallythreaded portion having a beveled seat to engage the upper edge of saidfriction ring members, a clamp ferrule threaded to engage said externalthreaded portion and having a beveled seat to engage the lower edge ofsaid friction member; (g) said adjustable and pivotable clamp memberseach having a rotatable clamp member having a cylindrical portion withan annular groove and a pressure saddle member adjustably seated in saidgroove by a frictional screw, said rotatable clamp member having athrough opening for the passage of said elongated positioning member anda saddle positioned to frictionally engage said elongated positioningmember and a threaded screw disposed to apply adjustable pressures onsaid elongated positioning member and (f) frictional locking means forholding said legs at an adjusted length.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,218,357 Bauer Mar. 6, 1917 2,018,988 Woodall Oct. 29, 1935 2,244,773Hawk June 10, 1941 2,341,537 Froelich Feb. 15, 1944 2,455,525 SchulzDec. 7, 1948 2,807,908 Lykes Oct. 1, 1957 2,828,577 Anderson Apr. 1,1958

1. AN ADJUSTABLE BOOK HOLDING MEANS, COMPRISING: (A) A PLANAR BACK RESTHAVING A MARGINAL REINFORCING MEMBER SECURED THERETO AT EACH SIDE; (B) ABOOK SUPPORTING MEMBER DISPOSED AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE PLANE OF SAIDBACK REST AND SECURED FIXEDLY THERETO; (C) ADJUSTABLE AND PIVOTABLECLAMP MEMBERS EACH HAVING A BASE SECURED TO ONE OF THE OPPOSITE SIDES OFSAID MARGINAL REINFORCING MEMBERS; (D) ELONGATED POSITIONING MEMBERSADAPTED TO SLIDE THROUGH SAID ADJUSTABLE CLAMP MEMBERS AND TO BE FIXEDLYPOSITIONED THEREBY AT THE DESIRED ADJUSTED POSITION; (E) TWO SPACEDAPART LEG MEMBERS WHICH EXTEND DOWNWARDLY AND ARE ADJUSTABLE FOR LENGTHSECURED SUBSTANTIALLY AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE BOOK SUPPORTING MEMBER; (G)SAID ADJUSTABLE AND PIVOTABLE CLAMP MEMBERS EACH HAVING A ROTATABLECLAMP MEMBER HAVING A CYLINDRICAL PORTION WITH AN ANNULAR GROOVE AND APRESSURE SADDLE MEMBER ADJUSTABLY SEATED IN SAID GROOVE BY A FRICTIONALSCREW, SAID ROTATABLE CLAMP MEMBER HAVING A THROUGH OPENING FOR THEPASSAGE OF SAID ELONGATED POSITIONING MEMBER AND A SADDLE POSITION TOFRICTIONALLY ENGAGE SAID ELONGATED POSITIONING MEMBER AND A THREADEDSCREW DISPOSED TO APPLY ADJUSTABLE PRESSURES ON SAID ELONGATEDPOSITIONING MEMBER AND (F) FRICTIONAL LOCKING MEANS FOR HOLDING SAIDLEGS AT AN ADJUSTED LENGTH.